Karen Sanders HR
Thoughtful reflections on HR, organisational development, people transformation and wellbeing
Welcome — I’m Karen Sanders.
I’m a seasoned HR executive with over 20 years experience at board level, with a long-standing interest in organisational development, people transformation and wellbeing at work. Through this blog, I share reflections from practice, learning from experience, and thoughtful commentary on the realities of working with people and organisations today.
My writing sits at the intersection of professional practice and reflection. It’s shaped by curiosity, lived experience, and a belief that better workplaces are both possible and necessary — particularly in times of change, pressure and uncertainty.
Featured and Recent Writing
This blog brings together reflective pieces, practical insight and observations from working life.
If you’re new here, you might like to start with:
The All-New Hokey-Cokey – Or the Subtle Art of Standing Out Whilst Really Fitting In
🥞The HR Pancake Race – What Are You Giving Up This Lent?
🗑 HR Room 101 – the language we need to retire
Friday the 13th… and Other Organisational Superstitions
Explore posts by topic by using the categories on the righthand side bar
About Me
I have spent many years working in strategic HR leadership and people-focused roles, supporting organisations and leaders through complexity, change and challenge. My experience spans HR practice, organisational development and people transformation — often in spaces where culture, behaviour and wellbeing matter just as much as structure and process.
What matters most to me is thoughtful, ethical practice: work that holds organisational needs and human experience in view at the same time. I’m especially interested in sustainable ways of working, compassionate leadership, and how organisations can evolve without losing sight of the people within them.
This blog is a reflective space rather than a set of answers. And while the work we do in HR is serious (and the consequences of getting it wrong can be significant), I don’t believe we have to be solemn about ourselves. You may find the occasional wry observation here — usually aimed gently in my own direction.
→ Read more about my background and approach
What I Write About
HR Practice & Professionalism
Reflections on modern HR practice, decision-making, ethics, and the evolving role of HR in complex organisations.
Organisational Development & Change
Culture, systems, change fatigue and what genuinely supports organisations to adapt and grow over time.
People Transformation
The human side of transformation — mindset, behaviour, trust, leadership and the realities of change in practice.
Wellbeing at Work
Mental health, boundaries, compassion and creating sustainable environments where people can do good work.
Reflection & Learning
Thoughtful reflections on practice, learning from experience, and making sense of complexity in working life.
Browse the latest posts
A Space for Reflection
This site isn’t about quick fixes or tidy frameworks. It’s a place to pause, reflect and explore ideas that matter to those working in HR, OD, leadership and people development.
If you’re interested in thoughtful, experience-based writing about people and work, you’re very welcome to explore the blog and follow along.
Thank you for reading.
Karen Sanders HR 